Finance Programs in Mississippi

Finance Schools in Mississippi

Total Finance Programs:10
Online Finance Programs:9
Admissions Requirements:Moderate
Average Tuition:$10,398
Average Scholarship Package:$6,075
Average Grant Amount:$8,507
Average Housing Cost:$4,167
Average Gender Ratio:42% Men / 57% Women
Average Student-to-Faculty Ratio:21:1

Mississippi has many prominent colleges and universities. Overall, there are ten schools with finance degrees. Three of those schools have finance degrees at the Associate’s level. Seven schools have Bachelor’s degrees in finance, and the same amount offer Master’s degrees in finance. Six Mississippi colleges offer a PhD program in finance.

Average annual tuition for a finance degree is $10,398. This is slightly lower than many other parts of the country, thanks to tuition in the south usually being lower than on the coast. Finance schools are evenly dispersed through the state, giving lots of geographic variability to Mississippi colleges.

The top three finance schools in the state are at Mississippi State University, University of Mississippi, and University of Southern Mississippi. All of them have fairly high acceptance rates, making them an option for many students.

The two most affordable finance colleges in the state are Jackson State University and Mississippi State University.

Educational Information:

Mississippi has finance degrees at every level. An Associate’s degree, such as the one at Pearl River Community College, allows students to finish their finance degree in approximately two years. These degrees usually have a blend of classes in finance and business, so students may study Human Resources Management, Introduction to Finance, and Accounting I. An Associate’s degree also requires several general education courses.

A Bachelor’s finance degree in Mississippi takes about four years. One of the noted Bachelor’s programs in Mississippi is at Mississippi State University. Here, students can choose between three different specialties: Banking, Financial Services, and Corporate Finance. All finance students have to take a finance career seminar or participate in an internship. This improves students’ chances of getting a job post-graduation. Classes required at this level include Principles of Financial Accounting, Financial Systems, Investments, and Financial Markets. The majority of scholarships are available at the Bachelor’s degree level. University of Southern Mississippi awards three to five scholarships every year to students who plan on becoming Certified Financial Planners.

Earning a Master’s degree in finance will take approximately two years on top of the four years spent on a Bachelor’s degree. Mississippi College has a Master’s in Business Administration degree with a concentration in finance. This type of degree is good for students who want to work in corporate finance. The majority of financial aid at this level comes from employers. Many employers will pay for their employees to go for a Master’s degree if the information will benefit the company.

Licensing Information:

Several finance careers require licensing and extra examination. Investment advisors, stockbrokers, and financial planners that sell fixed annuities must be registered with the state of Mississippi.

The Mississippi Securities Act, Rule 529 declares which examinations are required for investment advisors. It’s preferable for advisors to take Series 65. However, Series 66 and Series 7, when taken together, can also be used. You then register with the Secretary of State Securities Division.

Stockbrokers in Mississippi are also registered and licensed through the Secretary of State Securities Division. Applicants must take the Series 63 or Series 66 exam. In addition, they must take Series 6 or 7, whichever one is relevant to the products they are selling. A refresher course must be taken two years after licensure, and every three years thereafter.

To become a financial planner in Mississippi who sells fixed annuities and life insurance, you must have 20 hours of pre-licensing education. After the education portion, you can take the Mississippi Insurance License Examination.

Employment Information:

As of May 2020, finance professionals in Mississippi earned the following average salaries:

  • Financial analysts: $69,710
  • Financial managers: $95,120
  • Personal financial advisors: $81,360

Between 2018 and 2028, the number of jobs among the state’s financial analysts is projected to increase by 1.9.

Between 2018 and 2028, the number of jobs among the state’s financial managers is projected to increase by 2.9%, resulting in about 20 annual job openings during this ten-year period when combined with retirements and natural job turnover.

Between 2018 and 2028, the number of jobs among the state’s personal financial advisors is projected to increase by 1%.

May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market trends for financial analysts, financial managers, and personal financial advisors. Figures represent state data, not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed April 2021.

Job growth projections for financial and investment analysts, financial managers, personal financial advisors sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored O*Net database and based on state-specific information (2018-2028)